Gopher ID

This gopher was observed at the Santa Elena Canyon River Access in Big Bend NP, TX. I haven’t seen many gophers, but the eyes look large compared to the ear, the claws looked big. The fur doesn’t seem as yellow as I would have thought, but my best guess is Cratogeomys castanops, Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher. The only other gopher that should be here is Botta’s Pocket Gopher. Any confirmation or correction would be welcome. Thanks,

Interesting article about an ongoing urban bobcat study in the Dallas-Ft Worth area of Texas; http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/more-sports/outdoors/20140503-trying-to-explain-more-about-largely-unseen-bobcats-in-d-fw-area.ece – HeavenlyJane

I think you are right. Botta’s in the desert can be the same color, but there’s usually at least a shade of dark behind the ear, and the face generally looks more “gopherish”. Also, their upper incisors stick out in a weird way and would most likely be visible in a side view like this.